Clemson's Tommy Bowden said after the game he promised Harper the carry, a promise he made while recruiting the player. Bowden had done the same for prized recruits C.J. Spiller and James Davis and said he had no plans to abandon the practice.

"You'll never see me do that," Spurrier said, "I just think you gotta' earn it. Didn’t [Harper] have an ankle injury or a knee injury or something during [fall] camp?

"I don't think there's many guys who do that anymore. I guess if it helps recruiting that's something you can do."